The 'BDJ' series: Christmas

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

A note from the photographer, Damien Walmsley, on the final cover of this series: 'It is the season of goodwill and I wish you all a peaceful and restful holiday. It has been a privilege to have had the opportunity to undertake this project. I hope you have enjoyed seeing the covers as they arrive in the post and I do hope that I may have even made you smile in the process.'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Snow

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' , 'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221. From the photographer, Damien Walmsley: 'We always ask the same question each year - will there be snow for Christmas? Snow looks nice and clean when it first falls but as people and ducks walk over it then it can start to lose its appeal. Also the person who scrawled the letters 'B' 'D' 'J' in the snow to make a snowball has not helped!'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ; series: Alphabetti

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

The photographer, Damien Walmsley, on the story behind this particular cover: 'The idea of using alphabetti came up during our discussions for this series of photographs of the BDJ letters. This was a fun picture to set up. It took a few visits to different supermarkets to find the alphabetti. Composing the picture with a spoon made for an appetising picture. Plus there was no wastage as my granddaughter Lily enjoyed eating the alphabetti after the picture was taken.'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Bacteria A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221. The photographer, Damien Walmsley, on the story behind this cover: 'Bacteria is enemy #1 of dentists everywhere and is implicated in both caries and periodontal disease. This picture shows the letters BDJ made by bacteria grown on agar by my PhD student Firas Albaaj from Iraq. Firas is researching the cleaning of bacteria from root canals as part of his PhD studies and he enjoyed the challenge of making BDJ bacteria letters for this photograph.'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Plastic teeth A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B','D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

The series photographer, Damien Walmsley, on the material used to create this cover: 'Plastic teeth, lots of them, laid out on black cardboard making the letters 'B' 'D' 'J'. These plastic teeth are used by dental students to practise their skills with a dental drill. There have been many new technological advances, such as virtual haptic devices, but plastic teeth still have their place in the pre-clinical laboratories. They also take a good, slightly spooky photograph for Halloween!'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Cake A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221. Inspired by the Great British Bake Off, the baking of a BDJ lettered cake seemed appropriate for the theme. The Victoria sponge cake consisted of layers of sponge, jam and cream and is the creation of Ruth Doherty, Senior Managing Editor of the BDJ. The picture was taken just before the cake was eaten at a recent Journal Editorial Board meeting where everyone had a small piece with their lunch; the recommended timing for a sugary snack.

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: People

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

Photographer Damien Walmsley said: 'This was the most challenging cover of the series. For this photograph, the present 4th year Birmingham dental students agreed to take part and the setting is the Peace Garden adjacent to the new Birmingham Dental School and Hospital. The picture was taken from the roof of the building looking down towards the students. It was a very hot July afternoon and our students found standing still for a period of time whilst looking up to the sun difficult. My thanks to Katie Oakley and Serena Shandley from clinical photography, who co-ordinated moving dental students around on the ground to make the letters 'B', 'D' and 'J'. Finally, many thanks to our BDS students who are excited to be featured on the Journal's front cover.'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Shadows

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B' ,'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

The picture on the front cover of this issue was taken in the photographer's garden on the patio in order to set up a contrast between the long shadows with the lines and texture of the paving stones. The papier mache BDJ letters were ideal for generating the shadows made by the setting sun.

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

The 'BDJ' series: Blossom

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B','D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

Damien Walmsley, our cover series photographer, on the photograph which features on this issue: 'I was travelling on the bus to our new dental school in Birmingham when by chance my daily commute took me past Calthorpe Park. There I happened to see a beautiful carpet of pink blossom on the ground next to the main road. Unfortunately, I had to stay on the bus and could not return until late afternoon, after my student teaching clinic. So later that day, I arrived at the park and quickly made the letters 'B' 'D' 'J' in the blossom for the picture. I am not sure what the Birmingham rush hour traffic made of my photographic antics that evening!'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B', 'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221. Cover series photographer Damien Walmsley on the cover of this particular issue: 'One of the first ideas for the letters was to use fridge magnets. An order of three tubs of magnets was placed, and the tubs delivered to my daughter's house in Rugby, where there was much amusement in the family as the fridge was decorated with them. This was a very educational photographic shoot and now my granddaughter has access to a complete set of fridge magnets which are being used as a learning tool.'

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting ledto the idea of using the letters 'B', 'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221. Western-super-Mare is the setting for the letters BDJ which are written in the sand. This was taken early in the morning when there was a low tide. The picture was taken near to the Grand Pier and there are a few seashells scattered around the letters. I am not sure what the locals made of someone scrawling BDJ over the beach, but fortunately the tide came in later that day to wash away the evidence.

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

A chance conversation at the British Dental Journal stand at an international meeting led to the idea of using the letters 'B', 'D' and 'J' in different formats for the Journal covers. Each cover would feature the letters in a different media or setting. The idea gained momentum and in December 2015 the first pictures were taken. There were so many ideas for different pictures and these had to be narrowed down to a final 12, one for each cover in volume 221.

The first one in the series features the letters in the form of graffiti. The artist is Panda (Dave) from http://www.graffitiartist.com and the picture was taken at the Custard Factory, Digbeth, Birmingham. This is an artistic hub of shops and businesses near to Birmingham city centre. The BDJ mural was created under the railway arches near to Moor St Station.

Photography by Damien Walmsley

Email: Damien.walmsley@gmail.com

Twitter: @dammo

Instagram: @dammodammo

Flicker: www.flickr.com/damienwalmsley

Graffiti artist: Panda (http://www.graffitiartist.com)